Lubricating device



4 SheetsSheet 2 May 22, 1962 R. K. H. RUNKNAGEL LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed May 31, 1956 y 1962 R. K. H. RUNKNAGEL 3,035,876

LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed May 51, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nliiw lly min 1 United States Patent Ofitice 3,035,876 Patented May 22, l92

3,035,876 LUBRICATING DEVICE Rolf K. H. Runknagel, Reseda, Calif. (17000 Ventura Blvd., No. 208, Encino, Calif.), assignor, by mesne assignments, to Rolf K. H. Runknagel Filed May 31, 1956, Ser. No. 588,531 2 Claims. (Cl. 308-88) This application relates to devices for lubricating railway car journals.

Railway car journals heretofore have most commonly been lubricated by placing a quantity of oil soaked cotton waste in the journal box beneath the journal. A quantity of oil is also placed in the bottom of the box and the cotton waste serves to move the oil up and onto the journal by a wicking action. The loose cotton waste is usually held in place by a retainer'structure. 'Despite the presence of the retainer structure, threads from the cotton waste are carried upwardly around the journal and under the brass whereby to remove the oil from the bearing surface between the journal and the brass. This can result in a hot box.

In order to eliminate the various shortcomings and deficiencies in the use of loose cotton waste to lubricate journals, the present invention contemplates the use of a lubricating pad including wicking members extending from a pool of oil in the bottom of the journal box upwardly into contact with the journal. These wicking members and associated structure give good lubrication without the hazard of loose waste provided the wicking members are held in firm contact against the journal.

The wicking members in structures of the type set forth must be capable of following the movement of the journal with respect to the box which is experienced in going around curves or on rough tracks. To this end the wicking members are supported upon a resilient support which is in turn supported by a substantially rigid frame. The frame must be substantially rigid whereby to maintain the wicking members in proper position with respect to the journal box yet the resilient support mounted upon the frame must be capable of following the movements of the journal with respect to the journal box whereby to hold the wicking members in contact with the journal at all times.

Because of the construction of standard journals and journal boxes, the insertion of a rigid frame of adequate size within the journal box around the journal is difiicult. This results in large measure because of the limited clearance between the collar on the journal and the walls of the journal box. Flexible frames can be more easily inserted into the journal box around the collar, but do not give adequate support and positioning for the wicking members during operation.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved lubricating device employing wicking members for use in railway car journal boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a lubricating structure of the type set forth a support frame which is flexible for purposes of insertion in the journal box around the collar of the journal and can thereafter be made rigid after placement in the journal box to remain rigid during use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device of the type set forth which can be more easily and readily installed and removed and which further can be installed and removed without the use of special tools.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lubricating structure of the type set forth which provides improved lubrication of the journal by holding the 2 wicking members against the journal during all movement of the journal with respect to the journal box.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved resilient support for the wicking members and an improved structure for mounting the resilient support upon the support frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide retaining members to hold the support frame in position within the box which are shaped to clear the journal, wedge and brass and which permit removal of the Wedge and brass from the journal box while leaving the lubricating device including the retainer members in operative position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means to hold the lower ends of the wicking members in the oil pool within the journal box whereby to assure a steady supply of oil to the journal as long as any oil is available in the journal box.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in a lubricating device of the type set forth an improved seal about the lower portion of the fillet at the rear of the journal box.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a lubricating device of the type set forth means to insure lubrication of the journal adjacent the collar and the fillet at all times during operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a lubricating device of the type set forth an oil gauge readily viewable through the cover opening in the front of the journal box so that only the required amount of oil is placed in the journal box thereby reducing waste of oil through the dry seat at the rear of the journal box.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompany! ing drawings. In the drawings where like reference numerals have been used to designate like parts throughout:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View with certain portions broken away of a lubricating device made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view with certain portions broken away illustrating the manner of insertion of the lubricating device of FIGURE 1 in the railway car journal box;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the retainer springs used in holding a lubricating device in position within a journal box;

FIGURE 3a is a front elevational view of the retainer spring of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section through a railway car journal box and illustrating a lubricating device of the present invention installed therein;

FIGURE 5 is a view in vertical section through the assembly of FIGURE 4 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged View in section of a portion of the lubricating device of FIGURE 4 enclosed within the circle and designated FIGURE 6 therein;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section through the lubricating device in FIGURE 4 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 77 thereof;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial view in vertical section through the lubricating device substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 99 of FIGURE 5;

. portion of the wicking material used in the present inven- 'tion.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 4 and 5 thereof the construction of a typical journal box generally designated by the numeral 20 in which the lubricating device of the presentinvention is used will be described. The journal box 20 includes a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24 and a pair of side walls 26 and 28 interconnecting top wall 22 and bottom wall 24. The rear of the box is provided with a pair of upstanding walls 30 and 32 which define a slot that receives a seal 34 adapted to cooperate with the dry seat to be described later. The forward end of bottom wall 24 is provided with an upwardly directed front wall 36 which together with the side walls 26 and 28 defines an opening for the open end 38 of box 20. Hinged to top wall 22 as at 40 is a cover 42 (see FIGURE 2 also) which is adapted to close the open end 38. i

Extending into box 20 is one end of an axle 44 which includes a journal 46. The outer end of journal 46 is provided with a collar 48 which has a diameter substant-ially greater than the diameter of journal 46. The other end of journal 46 is provided with a fillet 50 which merges with the dry seat 52 which in turn is formed integral with axle 44.

Resting on top of journal 44 is a brass 54 having a liner 56. Brass 54 in turn supports a wedge 58 which underlies top wall 22 ofjournal box 20. This construction serves to support the journal box 20 and all parts a connected thereto upon journal 46 which in turn is supported by a Wheel mounted on axle 44.

A quantity of oil is provided in the bottom of journal box 20 and it is desirable to lubricate journal 46 by applying the oil thereto. To this end a lubricating device generally designated by the numeral 60 of the present invention has been provided. The lubricating device 60 is normally positioned within journal box 20 beneath journal 46 and senves to convey oil 62 from the bottom of journal box 29 upwardly and apply it to the under side of journal 46. Lubricating device 60 includes in general a support frame generally designated by the numeral 64 which resiliently supports a resilient blanket 66 which in turn supports a wicking pad 68 including a large number of wicking members.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings it will be seen that the support frame 64 includes three substantially U-shaped brackets 70,72 and 74 which are disposed substantially parallel to each other and in operative position are disposed perpendicular to the axis of the associated journal 46. Bracket 70 is provided with a pair of flanges 76 and 78 formed on the edges thereof and is reinforced centrally thereof by a pair of reinforcing grooves 88. The bracket 72 is similarly provided with flanges 82 and 84 and grooves 86 and bracket 74 is provided with flanges 88 and 98 and grooves 92. The described construction serves to rigidify and make rigid each of the brackets 74), 72'and 74. Each of the brackets 70, 72 and 74 is bent upwardly at the center thereofto receive a bottom bar 94'extending between and beyond brackets 78, 72 and 74 (see particularly FIGURE 9). A plurality of rivets 96 wives to interconnect the brackets and bar 94. Preferably bar 94 is formed of a flat sheet of spring metal whereby it can assume any desired shape such as that illustrated in FIGURE'Z of the drawings dur- 7 ing insertion of the lubricating device 60 within the journal box.

The rear end of bar 94 is curved upwardly as at 98 to form an abutment for the oil guard and seal which 4 will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The forward end of bar 94 includes a portion 16% extending beyond bracket 76 and has riveted thereto a plate 102. Plate 182 carries on the forward end thereof a pair of generally cylindrical hinge members 184 which hold and mount a handle generally designated by the numeral 1%; Handle 106 includes a pair of sides 188 and lit interconnected by a first cross bar 112. The other ends of sides 108 and 110 are provided with inwardly directed portions 114 and 116 which are received in hinge members 184 and terminate in a pair of abutment arms 118 and 12 respectively, Also interconnecting sides 1G8 and 111i is a second cross bar 122 which serves as an oil level gauge when the lubricating device 60 is in operative positiontsee FIGURE 4 particularly). Preferably bar 122 and the portions of sides 108 and 110 disposed toward the hinge members 1-84 are painted some distinctive color such as red so that a maintenance man checking a journal box can readily ascertain if the oil level is at the correct point.

Each of the upper ends of bracket 74 is provided with a plate 124 suitably secured thereto as by a rivet 126. Plate 124 extends upwardly beyond the associated end of bracket 74 and is provided with an inwardly directed part-circular sleeve 128. Received through each sleeve 128 is a coiled spring 130 which extends from behind sleeve 128 forwardly to the front bracket 71}. Each of the upper ends of front bracket 70 isprovided with a plate 132 (see FIGURES l and 6 particularly) secured thereto as by a rivet at 134 and including an inwardly directed part-cylindrical sleeve 136 disposed above bracket 76. Spring 130 extends through sleeve 136 and is provided on its forward end with a section of spring 138 threaded thereon which forms a stop to prevent that end of spring 130 from being withdrawn from sleeve 136. The other end of spring 130 as viewed in FIGURE 8 is also provided with a stop spring 140 threaded on the rear end thereof and with a reinforcement spring 142 threaded thereon between bracket 74 and bracket 70. Reinforcement spring 142 preferably is threaded up against sleeve 128 and extends for a substantial distance forwardly from sleeve 128.

The above described resilient frame 60 is readily deformable to permit substantially any desired amount and direction of movement of the various brackets 78, 72 and 74 with respect to each other. This feature is particularly desirable during insertion of frame 60 in the journal box because as is best illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings there is little clearance between collar 48 and forward end of bottom wall 24 of box 28.

Once frame 68 has been inserted in operative position within box 28 it is desirable to rigidity the frame whereby substantially to eliminate relative movement between the rigid brackets 70, '72 and 74. To this end a pair of retainers generally designated by the numeral 144 have been provided. The construction of one of the retainers 144 is best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 3a of the drawings. Referring to FIGURE 3 of the drawings it will be seen that retainer 144 includes a substantially straight section 146 which is adapted to be inserted in and through the aperture in the center of spring 130. Formed integral with one end of section 146 and disposed at substantially right angles thereto is a section 148 which merges with a curved section 150. Curved section 150 is formed integral with a circularly curved spring portion 152 which in turn is formed integral with an upstanding curved section 154. The upper end of section 154 is directed slightly rearwardly toward section 146 and terminates in an upstanding locking portion 156. Referring to FIGURE 4 of the drawings it will be seen that looking portion 156 is adapted to be positioned behind a projection 158 provided near the forward end of journal box 20. The curved sections 158 and 154 of each of the retainers 144 are curved outwardly from the plane defined by sections 146 and 148 toward the adjacent wall ofthe box 28 to clear the collar 48 and the upper end of section 154 is curved inwardly toward the associated journal (see FIGURE 3a). Accordingly, retainers 144 are not formed identical but in effect are mirror images of each other.

When sections 148 are inserted in springs 130, springs 130 are in effect made rigid whereby rigidly to position the upper ends of brackets 70 and 74 with respect to each other. This also eliminates the possibility of bar 94 permitting relative movement beween brackets 70 and 74. As a result frame 60 is substantially rigid and forms a good support for resilient blanket 66 and the lubricating pad 68. Retainers 144 effectively position frame 60 within journal box 20 and prevent shifting of frame 60 within the journal box. The outwardly curved construction of retainers 144 permits ready clearance of collar 48 and the spring portion 152 permits ready insertion and removal of retainers 144.

As described above, the function of frame 60 is to support the resilient blanket 66 which in turn supports the lubricating pad 68. Pad 68 includes a plurality of wicking members and more specifically includes a substantially continuous and closely packed pad of small upper lubricating loops 160 and a plurality of downwardly extending longer loops 162which extend into oil 62. The loops 160 and 162 are preferably formed of a special wicking material which will preferentially wick oil and will not wick water. To this end the wicking material includes a core of cotton which is oil impregnated with the naturally occurring oil and waxes thereof or some suitable substitute so that only oil can be wicked thereby. Such cotton cores form excellent wicks for oil and can lift large quantities of oil for considerable distances at a rapid rate. Preferably the cotton cores 164 are substantially cylindrical in form and are covered with a braid 166 of wool which is also treated preferentially to wick oil. The wool braid covering 166 is highly resistant to glazing and carbonizing and gives good transfer of oil from the cotton core 164 to the associated journal 46. The wicking material is preferably formed into the loops 160 and 162 which are supported and held in operative position by a cotton fabric'diagrammatically illustrated as at 168. Preferably the cotton fabric 168 is provided at the front and rear edges thereof with bands 170 formed of a combination of wool and rayon or nylon which is used to attach pad 68 to the flexible blanket 66 as will be described more fully hereinafter. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings in one form of the invention 12 rows of upper loops 160 are provided and 4 rows of longer loops 162 are provided, the lower loops 162 being arranged in two sets of two rows each. By providing a plurality of upper loops 160, metal particles, sand, grit and other foreign matter entering the journal box will not be rubbed against the journal and will fall downwardly between the loops 168.

Lubricating pad 68 is mounted upon the resilient pad or blanket 66. Referring more smcifically to FIGURES 1 and of the drawings the construction of blanket 66 will be described in detail. Preferably blanket 66 is formed of some resilient plastic material which is flexible over a wide range of temperature and is resistant to oil used in the lubricating of axles in railway car journal boxes. In general blanket 66 includes a substantially flat body 172 which is generally rectangular in shape. The corners of body 172 are cut back on the front and rear ends as at 174, 176, 178 and 180, to reduce the wear at these points occasioned by shifting of the journal 46 with respect to box 20. Four elongated cut-outs 182, 184, 186, and 188 are provided centrally of body 172 to receive therethrough portions of the lower loops 162 of the wicking members. More specifically the majority of two rows of loops 162 are put through the apertures 182 and 184 and the majority of the other two rows of loops 162 are put through apertures 186 and 188. Partcircular cut-outs 190 and 192 are provided in the forward end of blanket 66 to receive certain loops 162 whereby to assure lubrication of the journal adjacent collar 6 48. Similiarly a pair of cut-outs 194 and 196 is provided at the rear end of blanket 66 to receive loops 162 whereby to assure lubrication of journal 46 adjacent fillet 50.

Lubricating pad 68 is bound upon blanket 66 by means of thread passing through a plurality of apertures 198 around the periphery of body 172. More specifically threads pass through band around the edges of pad 68 and through apertures 198 whereby to secure lubricating pad 78 to blanket 66. A handle 200 formed of a loop of cloth is provided on the forward end of blanket 66 and is stitched as at 202 to body 172. Also holding handle 200 to body 172 is a pair of rivets 204 and 206 which also hold a pair of spring clamps 208' and 210 to the bottom of body 172. Spring clamp 208 includm a pair of part-circular sleeves 212 and 214 and clamp 210 similarly includes a pair of part-circular sleeves 216 and 218.

Formed integral with the bottom of body 172 is a pair of longitudinally extending ribs 220 and 222 which extend substantially the entire length thereof and which terminate a short distance from each end. Ribs 220 and 222 are disposed substantially parallel to each other and are disposed outwardly with respect to but adjacent to the apertures 182 and 184 and the apertures 1'86 and 188, respectively. Three pairs of apertures are provided in each of the ribs 220 and 222 and a metallic sleeve is provided in each aperture. More specifically three pairs of sleeves 224, 226 and 228 are provided in rib 220 and three pairs of sleeves 230, 232 and 234 are provided in rib 222.

The assembly of blanket 66 and pad 68 is resiliently supported upon frame 60 by three pairs of springs 236, 238 and 240. More specifically springs 236 pass through and are guided by sleeves 224 in rib 220, sleeves 212 and 214 on spring clamp 208 and sleeves 230 in rib 202. Springs 238' are received in and guided by sleeves 226 in rib 220, sleeves 216 and 218 on the spring clamp 210 and sleeves 232 in rib 222. A third set of springs 240 is similarly received in sleeves 228 in ribs 220 and sleeves 234 in ribs 222.

The ends of the springs 236, 238 and 240 are provided with double loops interconnected by grommets which are in turn supported by hooks 242 pivotally mounted upon brackets 70, 72 and 74. The loop and grommet construction on each spring and the construction of the various hooks 242 is substantially identical and accordingly, only one set will be described in detail, that set being the one provided on bracket 74 and illustrated in FIG- URES 7 and 8 of the drawings. Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that plate 124 is provided with a substantially semi-cylindrical portion 244 intermediate the ends thereof and extending outwardly from bracket 74. Received between bracket 74 and semicylindrical portion 244 is a cylindrical rod 246 to the ends of which are fixedly attached two books 242. Hooks 242 are disposed in planes perpendicular to the axis of rod 246 and are positioned inwardly with respect to bracket 74. This connection serves pivotally to interconnect hooks 242 to bracket 74 and further assures that both hooks 242 move in unison.

The end of spring 240 is provided with a pair of loops 248 which are interconnected by a metallic grommet 250 providing an eye through which one of the hooks 242 is received. Hooks 242 are positioned adjacent the upper ends of bracket 74 and, accordingly, serve to support springs 240 therebetween. Springs 240 in turn support the resilient blanket 66 on which is mounted the lubricating pad 63.

Springs 240 are free to move and slide through the sleeves 228 and 234 (see FIGURES 9 and 10). Springs 236 are likewise free to move and slide through the respective sleeves 224 and 230 on ribs 220 and 222. The

sleeves 212 and'214 on the spring clamp 208 are moved into clamped relationship about springs 236 during assembly of the lubricating device and therefore the midpoints of these springs are fixed with respect to the resilient blanket 66. Springs 238 are similarly clamped to blanket 66 by engagement thereof with sleeves 216 and 218 which are clamped therearound. The two clamps 208 and 210 therefore serve to centralize blanket 66 and the associated pad 68 with respect to frame 60.

The above described mounting is very effective in holding lubricating pad 68 against journal 46 even when journal 46 moves with respect to box 20. At all times during operation, the frame 60 is stationary with respect to box 20, being held therein by retainers 144. Therefore, the blanket 66 and pad 68 must be able to move with respect to frame 69 while attached thereto and while being urged thereby into firm lubricating contact with journal 46.

To obtain most effective use of the oil 62 within box and to be sure that the lower loops 162 are positioned in the oil 62 as long as there is any oil in box 20, means is provided to hold the lower ends of loops 162 in the lowermost position of box 20. To this end loop holding spring 252 is provided. Spring 252 is continuous and has one end 254 thereof threaded into the other end 256 thereof whereby to form a continuous loop spring. As has been pointed out above the lower loops 162 are arranged in pairs of rows extending downwardly through the various openings and cut-outs in blanket 66. One reach of spring 252 extends through loops 162 that pass through apertures 182 and 184 and cut-outs 190 and 194. The other reach of spring 252 passes through loops 162 which extend downwardly through apertures 186 and 188 and cut-outs 192 and 196 in bracket 68. To hold spring 252 and the associated loops 162 in the bottom of box 20, a pair of hooks is provided on frame 60. More specifically a first hook 258 is mounted upon a plate 260 which is in turn riveted to the center of bracket 70 by the rivets 96. The free end of hook 258 extends toward handle 106 and receives and holds spring 252. A second hook 264 is formed on a plate 266 that is secured by rivets 268 to the mid-point of bracket 74 (see FIG- URE 9 particularly). The free end of hook 264 is di rected rearwardly so that spring 252 is stretched between hooks 258 and 264. This structure serves to hold the ends of loops 162 in the bottom of box 20 and in contact with any oil 62 that may be contained therein.

To prevent splashing and loss of oil outwardly around the dry seat 52 in the rear of journal box 20 there is provided a crescent shaped gasket or sealing member generally designated by the numeral 266 (see FIGURE 11).

Preferably sealing member 266 is formed of a flexible 7 material such as a synthetic rubber which retains its flexibility throughout a wide temperature range and is resistant to oil used in lubricating railway journals. The construction of sealing member 266 can be best seen in the FIGURES 9 and 11 of the drawings. It will be seen that member 266 is made in one piece and includes a principal rearward'ly disposed member 268 to which there i is integrally attached along the center thereof a flange 270. Flange 276 has for-med thereon a semi-circular groove 272 which is arcuate in extent and extends sub- 'stantially the entire'length of sealing member 266. A wire 274 is disposed in groove 272 and is formed integral with the ends of springs 140 (see FIGURE 8). A plurality of staples 276 interconnect the free edge 278 of member 270 to the principal member 263 whereby to retain wire 274 in groove 272. Springs 146 acting through Wire 17 2 serve resiliently to urge sealing member 266 rearwardly against wall (see FIGURES 4 and 9) and fillet 58 round the lowermost portion thereof. manner sealing member 266 serves effectively to prevent leakage of oil rearwardly and out of box 28 across the dry seat 52.

With retainers 144 removed, the lubricating device of the present invention is substantially flexible and deform- In this 4.3 able in all directions. This is desirable during the insertion of the lubricating device in journal box 20 as is illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Frame 64, blanket 66 and pad 68 are all flexible. The interconnection between blanket 66 and frame 64 is also extremely flexible. The lulbricating device can assume the highly flexed and deformed position illustrated in FIGURE 2 which is necessary during insertion into box 20. An important problem in inserting the lubricating device within box 20 is the clearance around collar 48. Clearance around the collar 48 is facilitated by the pivotal connection between hooks 242 and the various brackets 70, 72 and 74. This pivotal connection permits blanket 66 to be moved even further downwardly whereby to give greater clearance ibetween pad 68 and collar 48.

Once the lubricating device has been inserted within box 28, the retainers 144 are placed in operative position and sections 146 are inserted into springs 130. Springs serve to guide sections 146 through sleeves 128 and 136 on brackets 74 and 70, respectively. The heavier springs 142 prevent the free ends of sections 146 from beingpushed through and outwardly between the coils of springs 130 during insertion through sleeves 128.

Once retainers 144 are in position, frame 64 is rigid. More specifically brackets 70, 72 and 74 no longer can move with respect to each other and retainers 144 firmly lock frame 64 in proper operative position box 20.

The curved sections 156 and 154 of retainers 144 are disposed and curved outwardly to clear collar 48 and to clear the wedge 58 and the brass 54. This construction permits removal and replacement of the wedge 58 and the brass 54 without removing the lubricator or the retainers 144.

With the retainers 144 in position, sections 146 thereof extend rearwardly beyond the rearmost end of springs 130 and (see FIGURE 8). This rigidities spring 140 and therefore insures a spring action between the main body of spring 140 and the extension thereof forming wire 274. This in turn provides a spring action urging the sealing member 266 rearwardly againstwall 30 and fillet 50.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 452,355, filed August 26, 1954, for Lubrication Unit, now abandoned.

It will be seen that there has been provided a lubricating device which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above. Although a preferred form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lubricating device for use in a railway journal box having a quantity of oil disposed in the bottom thereof and a journal extending therein, comprising a support frame including a plurality of rigid U-shaped brackets, a flexible member interconnecting said brackets adjacent the midpoints thereof, a retainer member detachably mounted upon said brackets, said retainer member including first portions engaging said brackets to eliminate relative movement therebetween and second portions engageable in the journal box to hold said support frame in the bottom thereof, a handle mounted on said flexible member, and an oil gauge mounted on said handle. 7.

2. A lubricating device for use in a railway journal box having a quantity of oil disposed in the bottom thereof and a journal extending therein, comprising a support frame including a plurality of rigid U-shaped brackets, a flexible member interconnecting said brackets, a retainer member detachably mounted upon said brackets, said retainer member including first portions engaging said brackets to eliminate relative movement therebetween and second portions engageable in the journal box to hold said support frame in the bottom thereof, a quantity of wicking material mounted upon said support frame and including loops adapted in use to extend from the oil in the bottom of the journal box to the journal therein, a spring member extending through said loops, and hooks mounted on said brackets adjacent the midpoints thereof to engage said spring member to hold the lower ends of said loops in the oil in the bottom of the journal box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown July 18, 1899 Miller Sept. 3, 1935 Miklos July 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 10, 1932 France Nov. 14, 1932 

